NAMM 2013: New Product Round-Up

Arturia SparkLE

Arturia’s evolution from software specialists to fully-fledged all-rounders continues with the release of the SparkLE, an addition to the Spark range. The SparkLE is absolutely tiny but runs the same software as its big brother.

Thanks to the likes of Maschine, Spark and Akai’s recently refreshed MPC range, the hybrid hardware-software drum machine is now a clearly defined product sector in its own right. Just as the full-sized Spark is an obvious rival to NI’s groundbreaking Maschine, the SparkLE will compete directly with the Maschine Mikro.

Don’t expect anything too revolutionary from this one, just a more portable and more affordable alternative to the original Spark.

Available late March/early April, priced at £229.

Native Instruments Reverb Classics

The official line is that Native Instruments don’t really do trade shows any more (although they still can’t resist coming along – we met them yesterday!) but they’ve made sure they get in on the NAMM hype too by releasing a new pack of modelled reverb plugins this week. The RC24 (based on Lexicon’s classic 224 digital reverb) and the RC48 (based on the equally-classic 480L) make up the Reverb Classics collection.

NI are much better known for virtual instruments, but with products like their recent Vintage Compressors series they’re making serious inroads on the world of effects too.

Available now. €149 each or €199 for the pair